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FuzzyRussianHat · 01-21-2024, 05:55 PM

Prior to the 1990 season, the Central American Baseball Association instituted rule changes designed to increase scoring. It would work as the Mexican League’s average ERA would go from 3.24 in the 1980s to 3.61 in the 1990s, while the Caribbean League went from 3.60 to 3.97. The CL would be among the highest scoring leagues in the world in the 1990s, although the numbers were merely above average when viewed in the full historical context.

Monterrey set a franchise record in 1990, taking the Mexican League North Division at 110-52. This gave the Matadors their third consecutive playoff appearance as well. Monterrey had the fewest runs allowed in the ML by a huge margin at 483 and had the second most runs scored at 706. At 96-66, Torreon easily got the wild card for their second playoff berth in four years. Hermosillo, the CABA champion the prior year, finished third in the division at 86-76. The South Division saw back-to-back titles for Guadalajara. The Hellhounds were 90-72, finishing nine ahead of second place Merida.

Monterrey 1B Francklin Bonhomme was Mexican League MVP. The 23-year old Haitian was Rookie of the Year the prior season and followed it up by leading in home runs (53), and RBI (121). He added 8.4 WAR, 211 hits, and a .337/.372/.625 slash. His Matadors teammate Juan Meza won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards, leading in ERA (2.07) and innings pitched (277.2). Meza added a 22-5 record, 341 strikeouts, and 8.6 WAR.

In the wild card round, Guadalajara downed Torreon 3-1 to give the Hellhounds back-to-back Mexican League Championship Series berths. However, Monterrey mauled them with a sweep, giving the Matadors their first pennant since 1966. Monterrey now has 11 ML pennants, second only to Mexico City’s 12.

The top record in the Caribbean League was easily Honduras at 100-62, giving the Horsemen their second playoff berth in three years. It was their first Continental Division title since 1973. There was a big glut of teams behind them fighting for the Island Division and the wild card. Defending CL champ Nicaragua won the wild card at 89-73, while both Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico were 88-74, Panama was 87-75, Havana was 85-78, and Trinidad was 83-79. The Dolphins defeated the Pelicans in a tiebreaker game to take the Island Division for back-to-back seasons. Costa Rica, the wild card last year, dropped to 70 wins.

Nicaragua CF Manuel Rodriguez won back-to-back Caribbean League MVPs and took advantage of the rule changes to increase his power. The third-year Guatemalan lefty smacked 68 home runs, the third-most in a season in CABA history. Rodriguez also led in RBI (146), runs (114), total bases (388), slugging (.692), OPS (1.053), wRC+ (172), and WAR (8.7). Santo Domingo’s Hugo Peguero won his second Pitcher of the Year, five years after his first one. The 31-year old Dominican righty led in ERA (2.25), WHIP (0.90), and FIP- (61). Peguero posted a 17-2 record over only 180 innings with 247 strikeouts and 6.3 WAR. An elbow strain cost him two months of the season and other injuries would make the next year his final full season.

Nicaragua began the wild card round down a game due to the handicap, but went onto win three straight to knock out Santo Domingo. The defending champ Navigators were underdogs heading to Honduras, where the Horsemen were making their first Caribbean League Championship Series appearance since 1973. Nicaragua pulled off the upset and took the series 4-2, earning back-to-back pennants and only their second ever.

The alternating home field advantage meant that the 80^th CABA Championship gave Nicaragua the edge despite Monterrey finishing with 21 more wins. For the first time in CABA Championship history, the series went all seven games with the road team winning every game. This gave the Matadors their first title since 1957 and their fourth overall, having also won in 1937 and 1955. Second year 2B Santiago Rosas was finals MVP, getting 15 hits, 6 runs, and 4 doubles in 11 playoff starts. This title would kick off an impressive dynasty run for Monterrey throughout the 1990s.

Other notes: OF Ruben Chavez won his seventh Silver Slugger.

01-21-2024, 05:55 PM	#901
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,823	1990 in CABA Prior to the 1990 season, the Central American Baseball Association instituted rule changes designed to increase scoring. It would work as the Mexican League’s average ERA would go from 3.24 in the 1980s to 3.61 in the 1990s, while the Caribbean League went from 3.60 to 3.97. The CL would be among the highest scoring leagues in the world in the 1990s, although the numbers were merely above average when viewed in the full historical context. Monterrey set a franchise record in 1990, taking the Mexican League North Division at 110-52. This gave the Matadors their third consecutive playoff appearance as well. Monterrey had the fewest runs allowed in the ML by a huge margin at 483 and had the second most runs scored at 706. At 96-66, Torreon easily got the wild card for their second playoff berth in four years. Hermosillo, the CABA champion the prior year, finished third in the division at 86-76. The South Division saw back-to-back titles for Guadalajara. The Hellhounds were 90-72, finishing nine ahead of second place Merida. Monterrey 1B Francklin Bonhomme was Mexican League MVP. The 23-year old Haitian was Rookie of the Year the prior season and followed it up by leading in home runs (53), and RBI (121). He added 8.4 WAR, 211 hits, and a .337/.372/.625 slash. His Matadors teammate Juan Meza won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards, leading in ERA (2.07) and innings pitched (277.2). Meza added a 22-5 record, 341 strikeouts, and 8.6 WAR. In the wild card round, Guadalajara downed Torreon 3-1 to give the Hellhounds back-to-back Mexican League Championship Series berths. However, Monterrey mauled them with a sweep, giving the Matadors their first pennant since 1966. Monterrey now has 11 ML pennants, second only to Mexico City’s 12. The top record in the Caribbean League was easily Honduras at 100-62, giving the Horsemen their second playoff berth in three years. It was their first Continental Division title since 1973. There was a big glut of teams behind them fighting for the Island Division and the wild card. Defending CL champ Nicaragua won the wild card at 89-73, while both Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico were 88-74, Panama was 87-75, Havana was 85-78, and Trinidad was 83-79. The Dolphins defeated the Pelicans in a tiebreaker game to take the Island Division for back-to-back seasons. Costa Rica, the wild card last year, dropped to 70 wins. Nicaragua CF Manuel Rodriguez won back-to-back Caribbean League MVPs and took advantage of the rule changes to increase his power. The third-year Guatemalan lefty smacked 68 home runs, the third-most in a season in CABA history. Rodriguez also led in RBI (146), runs (114), total bases (388), slugging (.692), OPS (1.053), wRC+ (172), and WAR (8.7). Santo Domingo’s Hugo Peguero won his second Pitcher of the Year, five years after his first one. The 31-year old Dominican righty led in ERA (2.25), WHIP (0.90), and FIP- (61). Peguero posted a 17-2 record over only 180 innings with 247 strikeouts and 6.3 WAR. An elbow strain cost him two months of the season and other injuries would make the next year his final full season. Nicaragua began the wild card round down a game due to the handicap, but went onto win three straight to knock out Santo Domingo. The defending champ Navigators were underdogs heading to Honduras, where the Horsemen were making their first Caribbean League Championship Series appearance since 1973. Nicaragua pulled off the upset and took the series 4-2, earning back-to-back pennants and only their second ever. The alternating home field advantage meant that the 80^th CABA Championship gave Nicaragua the edge despite Monterrey finishing with 21 more wins. For the first time in CABA Championship history, the series went all seven games with the road team winning every game. This gave the Matadors their first title since 1957 and their fourth overall, having also won in 1937 and 1955. Second year 2B Santiago Rosas was finals MVP, getting 15 hits, 6 runs, and 4 doubles in 11 playoff starts. This title would kick off an impressive dynasty run for Monterrey throughout the 1990s. Other notes: OF Ruben Chavez won his seventh Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)